God Hates Spain

This is what the Baptist Church of Westboro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church) (USA) considers. They also consider that the 160 dead people in the plane crash in Madrid (some whole families, parents and little children died and basically disappeared from earth) deserved the accident and deserved suffering that horrible death. They say that God caused the accident as a revenge for the tolerance and positive attitude of Spanish government and society towards homosexuals. This church is well known to hate homosexuals (they call them "fags") and they hardly criticized Spanish governmet (currenty left-socialist) for legalising the so called "gay or same-sex marriage". In Spain, as well as in other very few countries in the world (Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, South Africa and very few USA states) homosexual couples have exactely the same rights as heterosexual couples, including children adoption. In most European countries, like in Finland, they have the recognition of "Civil Unions" (which is not the same as "marriage" and we are not talking about words, but laws and rights), and in some others, being homosexual is just not accepted and you can even be killed according to the law (Iran, Arabia Saudi). They say that god created human beings according to its own image and appearance but actually, human beings create their own gods according to their own image and ideas. This church is sick and they created a sick god. That's all.

All the relatives and friends of the victims from the terrible event occurred in Madrid might find the way to look for peace and comfort.

beLIEve

Last news: an american family claims that they found Jesus face on their cat's fur. The video below shows how these poor and stupid people consider that they have been blessed with such an incredible event.

On the same topic I have found another video in which a woman explains how she found Jesus Christ in a cheeto (the snack). This story is even more interesting: it shows how stupidity can be the origin of so many good stories; even priests talk about the cheeto-jesus. Not only the brains, but the whole life of all this people is empty and they need to fill it with religion, cats and cheetos.

You might laugh but the truth is that from other, let's say, paranormal events, the catholic church has successfully built profitable business like in the Sanctuaries of Fatima (Portugal) and Lourdes (France) with millions visitors and lots of money (Lourdes' bishop gains 18 millions euros per year, used only for holy activities of course...). In Fatima, three illiterate and poor children saw Virgin Maria on top of a tree, some years after that, the sanctuary, the hotels and other leisure activities where developed around the holy place. Probably, when their parents were aware of the children's prank (children might have wanted to catch adults attention or maybe they ate some poisonous mushrooms in the forest), it was too late to stop the flood of pilgrims. Catholic church created a merciful and good Jesus Christ, son of God and a gifted dove. Throughout the centuries they managed to kill him, they killed his image and his message of love and compassion that they previously invented to build, instead, a new message, adapted to the new times. A message of hate and discrimination against woman, against homosexuals, against free sex and free love, against intelligence and liberated minds, against understanding, against any other divinities and beliefs (they have the LIE patent), against what is reasonable and foremost, human. And the message is full of contradictions and hypocracy. At the same time they developed a powerful and impassive business, the most profitable business in world history. They idea is brilliant: selling little plots in heaven. It is the best business: they never run out of raw material (it happens when you sell something that simply do not exist) and the cost is high: afraid believers offer, to different extents, their minds, souls, traditions, time and money to them. We are living good times for atheism, and before I die, I wish I could see the fall of catolicism. Say it with me and say it loud: "I am renegade atheist and I am proud!"

CapeTown: The Congress

I was disappointed about it. The congress (ICoMST 2008) did not fulfil my expectations at all. Few people attended and very few of those had something interesting to say. Nothing new, nothing relevant and thus, the scientific comitee were not particularly interested in my protein oxidation chemistry (with they being mostly animal producers and nutritionists). So, I displayed the posters and that was all. I wonder if I should go to other type of congress or if this year was not the right one: in Copenhagen next year, there will be a specific session about protein oxidation in which I could display all I got. I hope so. Anyway, the social program of the congress was ok and we could enjoy quite a lot of special dinners and events. It was also time to see old congress friends (like Noelia) and meet new ones (like a funny bunch of South Koreans; regards Hong).

CapeTown: The City

Our first time in Africa and still it was difficult to assume that we were in an African country. South Africa and particularly CapeTown, and particularly the bussiness city center were the congress and our hotel were located, are completely different to the image that we all have from Africa: poor black people suffering indescribable misfortunes. South Africa seemed to be a developing country similar to, let's say, Mexico (amongst those that I´ve known...) or something like this: great social imbalance but look like everything is getting better little by little. The point about South Africa is that the social imbalance split the society into two clear population groups: whites and blacks (or coloured people as a result of a number of mixtures, indians, thai, blacks, whites...). Needless to say that whites still control the economical and hence, the real political power while poor people is basically black people. By wandering the streets and watching at the people and the great amount of shanty towns (occupied by poor black people) and elegant and luxury houses (owned by whites), I thought of the historical injustice suffered by blacks in their own country. South African blacks are, for me, a good example of dignity and resistance against violence and discrimination. Their principles of non-violence (defended every now and then by Mr. Mandela) hindered the possibility of working it out before, like it should have been done, using their social strength to bring the racist government down and throw oppressive whites out of the country and back to the place (certain European countries) they should have never left. But if finally happened. Freedom was conquered and yet with that imbalance, South Africa is now a free country with surprising advance legal issues like the legal marriage between gays and lesbians (that is total and absolute equality of rights between heterosexual and homosexual couples, including adoption) like in very few other countries (Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Canada and some USA states). I suppose that the lack of freedom for a long time encourage now the new society to run for freedom and equality in all aspects. The city itself is beautiful because of the impressive surroundings and beautiful sea. The African and European culture are mixed in the streets, the food, the speaking...By the way, extremely hard to understand South African speaking English: they have a dialect which will soon become a new language...They have a rich variety of foods, meats from game and exotic animals, a lot of fish, wine, fruits, vegetables...but they include a lot of spices...not the Spanish way really. But we enjoyed trying crocodile meat and having new and exotic experiences. We also has time for some tourism and visited a penguin reserve, a botanic garden and Cape Point which is a promontory at the south-east corner of the Cape Peninsula: a mountainous and very scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent (this has been taken from Wikipedia). But actually the view from there is breathtaking. It was a pity that it was not summer down there: the beaches are also incredible. We have reasons to return again...

Isabel y Mónica

Sonia and me are going to miss you so much. Your smiles, your laughters, your company...

Isabel: you conquered our stomachs with your tasty food and also our hearts with your kindness big smile and endless patience with me and Alfonso.

Mónica: you have coined some of the most famous expressions in our small community and sometimes we laugh at remembering how you used to say "húmanoide", "métrolle" or "Púolanne". I hope you learnt something more than my stupidities at the lab and please, remember that Alfonso and me are willing to meet your colleages and friends in Valencia. We have a couple of things to say there!

You are the kind of people that makes this stay a unique and pleasant experience. I wish you the best and hope to see you soon somewhere...

Congress in Capetown

We are leaving Finland for a Congress in CapeTown. It will be our first time in Africa and our third in the International Congress of Meat Science and Technology. In one week, you´ll have a good selection of my pics. However, I have posted now a selection of pics from those that I have found in google. According to them, it is hot, people use few clothes and there are beautiful beaches! Congress? What congress????